A coepoeation



No. 153,506. PATENTBD MAR. 1, 1904.

o. w. MBISSNER.

DUMP CAR.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 11. 1903.

HO MODBL. A

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. k Wm IU Y No. 753,506.

UNITED STATESv Patented March 1, 1904.

PATENT v OFFICE.

BALLAST CAR COMPANY, l or iLLiNoIs.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION i DUMP-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming partrof Letters PatentNo, 752.3506, dated March 1, 1904.

Applnain sie@ :ru-1y 11, 190e.k senato. 165,139. ein maar) To a/ZZ whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, O'r'ro W. Mnissnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing atObicag'o,

in the county of Cook and AStateof Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dump-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class ofdumpcars known as Rodger ballast -cars,. and particularly to the construction and arrangement by which such car may bel made convertible and used as a center-dump car of the Rodger type, as a fiat-bottom gondola car, and as a platform-car, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

- The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, and 'eliicientconvertible dump-car.

The invention consists principally in a con vertible dump-car in which there are combined a supporting-framework, aV-shaped hopperportion extending lengthwise ofthe car with its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and formed in two portions, a-lower, V portion secured to the supportingframework and extending below the same, and an upper portion foldably secured to the supporting-frame portion` above the same, s0l als to form the upper portions of the inclined sides of the hopper whenl in one position and complete the at floor of a gondola car when in a second position, and foldable sideboardspivotally secured tothe supporting-framework of the car above the floorcportion to form the sides of a gondola car when in one position and to be swung to a second position to form a platform car.

The invention consists, further and iinally, in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of one type of car as it appears when constructed in accordance with these improvements, showing half of the car with the parts arranged in one position, so as to form a iat platform-car, and theother half in position to form a center-dump car of the Rodger type; Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional detail of the link mechanism by which the foldthe longitudinal center,

able side boards are pivotally secured in position, and Fig. 3 a sectional detail taken on line 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow.

In illustrating and describing these improvements I have only illustrated and will here describe that which I consider to be new, taken in connection with so much as is old as will properly disclose the invention to others and enable those skilled in the art to practice the same, leaving out of consideration other and pp well-known mechanisms which if set forthJ herein would only tend to confusion, prolixity, and ambiguity.

In constructing a car in accordance with these improvements I provide a supportingframework, preferably having a plurality of longitudinal sills a, two side sills Z, and crossbeams c, tied together `in Vany convenient or usual mannen and supported inthe ordinary way upon a car-axle UZ, having ordinary carwheels e.

To form a convertible dump-car, I provide a V-shaped hopper portion and arrange it lengthwise of the car, with its apex at or near A to form what is known as a hopperbottom center-dump car. This hopper portion is made in two portions-,a lower V-shaped part having one inclined side f rigidly attached to the4 framework of the car and another side, g, pivotally. secured to the framework at la and'meeting the xed side at an-apex below the supporting-framework of the car. The foldable inclined section g forms a discharging-door and is provided at its lower end with an angle-iron i, which in a measure forms a pocket (see Fig. l) to receive the lower end of the fixed section, and thus permit of a slight opening movement of such swinging door without any discharge of material. The second portion of the hopper is arranged above the supporting-framework of the car and formed of twofoldable sections i, that arepivotally secured to such framework and adapted to be folded upwardly and outwardly, asshown to the right of Fig. I, to form portions lof the inclined sides of the hopper-bottom when in one position, and again to be folded downwardly and laid in a fiat plane, as shown to the left of Fig. l, to form a continuation of or part of the flat floor j of a gondola car. When laid in ailat plane, these parts rest upon a center beam lo, that may be removed when the' car is used asa center-dump car. To complete this type of car, side boards Z are provided and pivotally secured to the supporting-framework at the upper outer sides, so that they may be arranged in a vertical position, as shown to the right of Fig. l, to complete a fiat-bottom gondola car or the sides of a center-dump car of the Rodger type, and again in a second position may be laid in a flat plane, as shown to the left of said figure, so as to form a platform-car. A plurality of links m is provided, pivotally secured to brackets n on the framework of the car and having pivotal connection with pins p on the lower edges of said side boards. These links are slotted at q, where they have their pivotal connection with the pins on the lower edges of the side boards, so as to permit the necessary play for said boards to be laid in a flat plane or arranged in vertical po-V sition, as shown in the drawings.

, To open and close the discharging-door g, a rock-shaft r and chain s are provided, as shown in Fig. 1, all inthe usual manner. A hook and link u are provided to hold and lock the upper inclined portions of the hopperand the vertical side boards in position. When the car is to be used as a flat-bottom gondola car, side stakes lvare provided and in'- serted in the metal stake-pockets W. Hooks and staples or other suitable means may be used to lock said side boards to the stakes.

I claiml. In a convertible dump-car, the combination of a supporting-framework, a V-shaped hopper extending lengthwise of the car and formed in two portions-a lower portion and an upper foldable portion arranged to be folded into a fiat plane and complete the floor of a gondola car or opened to complete the inclined sides of a hopper-car, and side boards pivotally secured to the framework of the car to form the sides of either a gondola or hopper car in one position and to be swung to a second position to convert the car into aplatform-car, substantially as described.

2. In a convertible dump-car, the combination of a supporting-framework, a V-shaped hopper portion extending lengthwise of the car and formed in two portionsa lower V portion secured to the Vsupporting-framework and extending below the same and an upper portion formed of two swinging sections foldably secured to the supporting-frame portion above the same so as /to form the upper portion of the inclined sides of the hopper in one position and complete the at Hoor of a gondola car when in a second position, and side boards pivotally secured to the supportingframework of the car above the floor portion to form the sides of a gondola car when in position and to be swung into a flat plane in a second position to form the Hat floor of a platform-car, substantially as described.

3. In a convertible dump-car, the combination of a supporting-framework, a V-shaped hopper portion extending lengthwise of the car and formed in two parts-a lower V-shaped part formed of one fixed and one swinging section attached to the supporting-framework of thecar below the same, an angle-iron on the lower end of the swinging section to form a recess to receive the lower end of the fixed section and an upper portion formed of two swinging sections pivotally secured to the framework of the car above the same so as to form the upper portions of the inclined sides of the hopper when in one position and to be laid in a at plane when in a second position to form parts of the at bottom of a gondola car, and side boards foldably secured Ato the framework of the car above the same and arranged when in one position to form the sides of a fiat bottom gondola or center-dumping car and to be swung or folded into a second position over the upper portions of the hopper and laid in a iiat plane to form the floor of a platform-car, substantially as deseribed.

4. In a convertible dump-car, the combination of a supporting-framework, a V-shaped hopper portion extending lengthwise'of the car and formed in two parts-a lower V- A shaped part having one xed and inclined section rigidly attached to the supporting-framework of the car below the same and a second. swinging inclined section pivotally secured to the supporting-framework and provided with an angle-iron at the lower end to form arecess to receive the lower end of the fixed section, and an upper portion formed of two swinging sections pivotally secured to the framework of the car above the same so as to form the upper portions of the inclined sides of the hopper when in one position and to be laid in a flat plane when in a second position to form parts of a fiat bottom for a gondola car, side boards foldably secured to the framework of the car above the same and arranged when in one position to form the vertical sides of a flatbottom gondola or center-dumping car and to be folded into Aa second position over the upper portions of the hopper and laid in a iiat plane to form the iioor of a platform-car, and a plurality of links pivotally secured to the supporting-framework and the side boards and having a slotted engagement with the lower ends of the vertical side boards to permit the foldable operations thereof,isubstantially as described.

5. In a convertible dump-car, the combination of a supporting-framework, a V-shaped hopper portion extending lengthwise of the car and `formed in two parts-a lower V- shaped portion secured to the framework of the car and extending below the same and an TOO boardsfor either a fiat-bottom gondoiaJ or cen- IO ter hopper-dumping car when in one position and the Bat ioor of a platform-oar when in a second position, substantially as described.

OTTO W. MEISSNER.

Witnesses:

HARRY IRWIN CROMER, ANNIE C. COURTENAY.` 

